The Datai Langkawi Malaysia can take its fair share of credit for instigating the gentrification of Langkawi Island when it opened in 1993. Reachable via a long winding road, this sprawling five-star luxury collection hotel is tucked away within a lush rainforest in Datai Bay. 20km west of Kuah, it is an icon in Langkawis hotel landscape and offers a total of 124 secluded villas set on paths leading down to a private bay and the hotels white sand beach.

There are six room types in total, with each unit sparing no expense when it comes to in-room decor - think polished dark wood floors and beige-upholstered, heavy Balinese-style furniture offset by fluffy white duvets and heavy linen curtains. Featuring eclectic spaces that range from the 62.5sqm Premium Room to the 475sqm two-bedroom Beach Villa (which comes complete with a ten metre pool), each lodging unit at The Datai Langkawi Malaysia is the perfect marriage of modern luxury and hi-tech functionality. In-room amenities remain the same across the board - think free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs with cable programming, iPod docking station and DVD players, as well as other expected five-star facilities. Select rooms come with extra special features like a plunge pool with built-in Jacuzzi and private balcony. Families looking for a secluded stay can book a stay at the Villa Hutan Datai, a Malay-style villa on stilts offering four bedrooms surrounding a central 15m-long central pool and an outdoor bar/barbecue area. A resort that makes for an especially ideal stay if you are a golf enthusiast - there is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by former World No. 1 Ernie Els: on the facilities side, there is an onsite spa, two tennis courts, a fitness club with personal trainers and two swimming pools. Besides that the hotel can arrange for water sports activities, babysitting service, private transfers and there are four restaurants serving Thai cuisine, Malaysian and Western food and authentic Malay and Indian cuisine.

The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort Langkawi, is cozy tucked away between a 10 million year old rainforest and the tranquil Datai Bay and an 8,000 year old fringing coral reef on the island of Langkawi. This resort represents sophisticated and five star extravagance from the get-go. While the islands many luxury hotels do not come cheap, their surroundings, onsite facilities, rooms and service make them superbly worthwhile, and The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort Langkawi tops this list.

Its 178 rooms are a study in cool elegance - think Malay-inspired architecture, furnishings and fixtures, private balconies offering views of the ocean or jungle, a bathroom with a large tub and glass-enclosed rainforest shower. Moreover, in-room downtime is well catered to with each unit offering standard amenities and state of the art tech such as a 32-inch flat screen TV with cable programming, DVD player and free WiFi. Wheather guests choose the entry level 43sqm Deluxe Room or decide to splurge and live like royalty in the 171sqm Presidential Suite, they are sure to feel pampered.

Besides that, there is so much more than its lodging units to love about this sprawling property - the lagoon-style pool is set by the beach and comes equipped with a water slide to keep the young ones entertained while parents can take advantage of the numerous sun loungers ringing it to top up their tans. There is a terrific kids club, the Young Explorers Club, which has been designed to look like an indoor rainforest, and offers a range of educational activities such as a treasure hunt, tug of war and water tag to help children stay active. Additionally, the hotel also offers a range of water sport activities, guided nature treks, a fitness centre with daily classes, a coral nursery and an award-winning spa which is the first spa in Malaysia to use 100% certified-organic food-grade products. Four equally alluring restaurants offer a variety of food from Malay food with western influences, to international favourites and Japanese cuisine. Lastly the Els Club Teluk Datai is one of the worlds most captivating golf courses and was designed by four-time major winner and former Open champion Ernie Els and it is located a mere four minutes drive from The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort.